Pastor Bruce's .... August 2012 Message

Dear Church Family,

We have had a busy summer up to this point with a lot of ministry going on. Someone told me the other day that summer is actually to the end of October. We sometimes think that summer is over after camp meeting and when school starts.

The Scripture says, (Eph 1:22-23 NIV)  And God placed all things under his [Christ’s]  feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, {23} which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way. Verse 23 tells us something very important and I think needs to be thought about. We know that the church [saved people] is the body of Christ and this verse tells us that we, saved people, are the “fullness of Christ!” What does that mean? Verse 23 goes on to say that, Christ fills everything in every way. So, the reason we are the fullness of Christ is because of Him filling us, and that would be through the Holy Spirit. (Eph 5:18 NIV)  Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.

The conclusion on verse 23? We are God’s ministers on this earth, and as the Liberty Street Church of God Family, we are God’s ministers in this community and the surrounding areas. That leads me to this thought with regard to something I read recently.

“You have to decide if you’ll be a minister of Christ or a minister of the church. Anyone can be a minister of the church without Christ, but no one can be a genuine minister of  Christ without authentically having an impact on the church.” (The Shepherd’s Covenant, H.B. London pg. 195)

I would say the interpretation of that statement is: We can minister in our own power with our own thinking and our own philosophy of doing church; however, if we really want to make a difference and impact lives, we have to do the work in and through the power of the Holy  Spirit. In fact, that is who the difference maker is, the Holy Spirit. He is an extension of Jesus Christ.

I believe that our congregation is making a difference in the lives of many in our           community and around the world with the mission giving. We are also going to make a  major difference in our community when we get our new facility completed. I want to      encourage you to keep on persevering, to keep on doing what we are doing more and more. I also want to encourage you to invite your unchurched friends and relatives to the kick-off of the Saturday night services starting October 13. We need to continue to be obedient to God and keep on growing.

I am so thrilled about so many new folks making the Liberty Street Church of God their church family and there are so many of you that are “ON FIRE” for the Lord. What an awesome move of the Spirit.

God bless you and remember that, (Eph 2:10 NIV)  “….we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Pastor Bruce